Russia said it will ban food imports from Ukraine starting in 2016 as the neighboring nations remain at odds following Kiev’s decision to adopt Western-imposed sanctions of its own.
Alexei Ulyukayev, Russia’s minister of economics, confirmed plans to implement the ban beginning next year, Kremlin-run media reported Wednesday.
“Because Ukraine has joined the sanctions against the Russian Federation — economic and financial — we have made the decision to implement protective measures in the form of an embargo on foods,” Mr. Ulyukayev said during an interview on Russian television.
Moscow has threatened in recent months to ban Ukrainian imports next year after the government in Kiev discussed joining a free-trade deal with the European Union. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced the deal had been finalized Tuesday, and the economic association agreement and Russia’s subsequent import ban are both expected to be implemented starting Jan. 1.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Russia’s decision will cost Kiev roughly $600 million during 2016 and would amount to much more had Ukraine not drastically reduced its dependence on Russian products by nearly two-thirds, local media reported.
Separately, Ukrainian Deputy Economic Development Minister Nataliya Mykolska claimed the ban would hurt Ukrainian exports by a comparably meager $205 million.
“There is a high probability that we will have to unilaterally protect our market against uncontrolled access of products through Ukrainian customs, products of third countries, primarily countries of the European Union,” Mr. Ulyukayev said Wednesday.
Russia already imposed a ban on food from the E.U., the United States and other Western powers as a result of those countries’ decision to adopt sanctions stemming from Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea. However, Ms. Mykolska said many Ukrainian goods are already considered contraband in Russia as a result of an existing embargo.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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